Andrea Lobo, PhD,  science writer—

Andrea Lobo holds a PhD in cell biology/neurosciences from the University of Coimbra-Portugal, where she studied stroke biology. As a research scientist for 19 years, Andrea participated in academic projects in multiple research fields, from stroke, gene regulation, cancer, and rare diseases. She has authored multiple research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

Articles by Andrea Lobo

Lower glucocorticoid dosing regimen may be risky, study finds

A reduced glucocorticoid dosing regimen for inducing disease remission in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may be associated with a higher risk of poor disease outcomes in those with severe disease, compared with the standard-dose regimen. That’s according to a real-world study in France and Luxembourg that involved people…

EGPA should be considered in patients with severe asthma: Study

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) should be considered in people with uncontrolled severe asthma and high blood levels of immune cells called eosinophils — a hallmark of the autoimmune disease — according to the findings of a study from Singapore. This rare type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) was…

Respiratory manifestations common, recurrent in pediatric GPA

Most children with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have respiratory manifestations including cough and shortness of breath at diagnosis, and these frequently persist or relapse, according to a study in the U.S. involving 13 pediatric patients. Lung abnormalities were detected in nearly all children with available imaging data at diagnosis…

Fasenra granted approval in EU for hard-to-treat EGPA patients

Fasenra (benralizumab) has been granted approval in the European Union as an add-on treatment for adults with relapsing or treatment-resistant eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, or EGPA, a rare type of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). The clearance of Fasenra, “with its convenient, single-monthly injection is a positive step forward…

AAV raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, review study finds

People with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases and related mortality than people without the disease, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies. For example, the risk of venous thromboembolism, a blood clot that develops in a vein, was three times higher…

Phase 1 trial of CAR T-cell therapy will soon enroll AAV patients

A Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety and preliminary efficacy of Adicet Bio’s CAR T-cell therapy ADI-001 in people with autoimmune diseases, including ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), has started recruiting certain participants — and it’s expected to enroll AAV patients by the end of the year — the…

CT scan damage may predict ANCA-associated vasculitis outcomes

Patterns of lung damage on CT scans may help predict disease outcomes in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and determine which patients should receive more intensive treatment, a study in Germany suggests. Particularly, ground glass opacities (GGO), which are white diffuse regions due to fluid, airway collapse, tissue scarring,…

Fasenra approval for EGPA in EU recommended by committee

A European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of Fasenra (benralizumab) as an add-on treatment for adults with hard-to-treat eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). If approved for the recommended indication, the AstraZeneca therapy would be a new option for patients in…